How to Check Copyright Status in India – MSME Guide

Table of contents:

• Introduction
• Understanding Copyright Status and Its Business Relevance
• How to Check Copyright Status in India
• Legal Framework: Indian Copyright Act & Its Implications
• Copyright for MSMEs: Procurement, Content, and Digital Risks
• Best Practices to Safeguard Your Content & Avoid Infringement
• Conclusion

If you’re running a small business in India, copyright status probably isn’t at the top of your to-do list. But whether you’re listing products on GeM, creating packaging designs, or launching a new website—your content needs protection. In this guide, we’ll break down what copyright status means, how to check it, and why every MSME should take it seriously.

Understanding Copyright Status and Its Business Relevance

If you’re running an MSME in India—whether it’s a design studio, logistics brand, or a steel vendor uploading product brochures—the phrase “copyright status” isn’t just legal jargon. It’s a critical checkpoint in protecting what you’ve built. And more importantly, in avoiding what could derail you.

At its core, copyright status reflects the current legal standing of a work you’ve submitted for protection—be it pending, registered, refused, or under objection. Most MSMEs either don’t file at all or, worse, assume that creating content alone guarantees ownership. It doesn’t. Without checking the actual registration status on the Copyright Office India portal, your rights are in limbo.

Here’s what you don’t usually hear: in tender submissions, catalog uploads, or government platforms like GeM or eProcure, improperly attributed or unverified assets can raise red flags.

Let’s bring this closer to the ground. A Nagpur-based auto-parts supplier we spoke to had uploaded product catalogues on their website—designed externally, approved internally. Months later, they received a takedown notice. Turned out, the agency had repurposed an image of a drive shaft originally clicked for another client. Internal audits did not raise it.

The consequences? Their GeM listing was momentarily suspended pending review. They had to answer legal questions, tell current purchasers, and reissue the catalogue. What was lost? Not just income but also buyer confidence was eroded. The price was strategic, not only financial.

For MSMEs, this is not unusual. And it emphasises a straightforward reality: knowing the state of copyright is no more a choice. It is operational neatness.

How to Check Copyright Status in India?

You’d think there’d be a simple dashboard for this—but the actual flow to check your copyright status takes a few steps. Not hard, just… bureaucratic.

Still, if you’re running an MSME—maybe publishing catalogs, getting packaging designed, or launching social media ads—it’s worth taking the 5 minutes. A quick status check can save you a compliance mess down the line.

The Copyright Office of India has a tool for this. It’s public, slightly dated in design, but it works if you know where to click.

Here’s the flow—don’t worry, we’ll keep it tight:

Step 1

Go to copyright.gov.in. On the left menu, there’s a “Status of Application” link. Not very bold, easy to miss.

Step 2

Pick the category. For most MSMEs, it’ll be “Artistic Work” (logos, packaging), or “Literary Work” (product sheets, brochures). If it’s software or jingles, you’ll see other options.

Step 3

Type in the Diary Number. This came with your application filing—usually via email or a receipt. No diary number? Try the Application Number, or ask whoever filed it (in-house, CA, or consultant).

Step 4

Click “Search.” You’ll see a line of text telling you the status. It could be:

• Pending – Review ongoing. You’re in the queue.
• Registered – You’re good. Use the content freely and cite registration if needed.
• Objection Raised – Needs clarification or reply.
• Rejected – Something’s off—wrong filing, wrong class, or plagiarism concerns.

Let me pause here: if you see Objection, don’t panic. This doesn’t mean your content is stolen—it usually just means there’s a similar entry in the system. Happens a lot with logos and templates.

Let’s say your business got a brochure made by a freelancer and filed for copyright. Three weeks later, you find it marked “Objection.” It turns out the designer used a stock background already registered under another brand. Now you’ve got to respond to the office. It’s not litigation—but it’s admin time you didn’t budget for.

So yes, checking the copyright status is about more than curiosity. It helps you understand your content’s legal standing before you place it in public bids, publish online, or distribute through government procurement platforms like GeM.

Legal Framework: Indian Copyright Act & Its Implications

What the Indian Copyright Act Really Covers

The Indian Copyright Act, 1957 lays out what qualifies as protected content—from brochures and code to jingles and infographics. For MSMEs, it’s important to know that copyright isn’t just for books or songs. It covers:

• Logos and packaging artwork
• Catalog and website text
• Instruction manuals, training videos
• Marketing creatives, social media campaigns

Basically, if it’s original and fixed in a tangible form (i.e., not just in your head), it qualifies.

Here’s what often goes unsaid—you don’t need to register to own copyright in India.Rights technically exist the moment your material is produced. But registration helps to establish it in court, which is where it matters. Particularly in a tender conflict.

In India, how long does copyright last?

The kind of work determines the copyright term:

• Original literary, artistic, and musical works: sixty years following the author’s death.
• For broadcasts, recordings, and photographs: 60 years from the date of publication.

Why should MSMEs care about this? Inherited or “old” material does not always imply it is free to use. That jingle from a 1980s radio commercial could still be copyrighted. If your agency reuses it in a pitch today, and it’s still protected—you’re liable.

The Cost of Ignoring It

Copyright infringement penalties in India can include:

• Up to ₹2 lakh in statutory damages
• Seizure of goods
• Injunctions or takedown orders
• And, yes—potential criminal liability in some cases

It’s rare for MSMEs to end up in court over this—but if you’re bidding for a government contract or publishing materials on a large platform, you’re in a visible space. That makes you a target for scrutiny.

There’s a saying in the compliance world: visibility without verification invites violation.

Copyright for MSMEs: Procurement, Content, and Digital Risks

Where MSMEs Face Copyright Exposure Daily

Most MSMEs don’t wake up thinking about copyright—but the risk often lies in routine tasks. You’re uploading catalogs to GeM, getting a banner designed by a freelancer, or embedding a product video in your tender presentation. Innocent moves. But here’s the reality:

• That product image? Might be pulled from a supplier PDF, not licensed.
• The jingle in your ad? Could be royalty-free—but only for personal use.
• The brochure template? May contain vectors from a paid tool your agency didn’t license properly.

These aren’t hypotheticals. A Surat-based textile exporter had to pull down their entire GeM listing after a competitor filed a complaint. The issue? A pattern used on their digital mockup was traced back to a copyrighted design on a European stock site. It wasn’t even visible in the printed material—but the preview image was enough.

GeM, eProcure & TReDS: Compliance Expectations Are Rising

Platforms like GeM, eProcure, and TReDS are no longer just listing platforms—they’re compliance-driven ecosystems. If your uploads (brochures, images, product sheets) in any way infringe third-party copyright, it could affect:

• Your eligibility for bids
• Your public profile visibility
• Your credibility with buyers and auditors

More than one MSME has had to pull out of tenders due to such issues—sometimes because a vendor reused an agency-supplied banner. Sometimes because of music in a demo video. It’s not just about protection anymore. It’s about auditability. Can you prove you have the rights to everything you publish?

When Procurement Meets IP: The Missing Layer

In most companies, procurement and legal don’t talk unless there’s a crisis. But that gap is where trouble brews. If your procurement team is onboarding a content vendor—logo designers, ad agencies, catalog specialists—they need to insert one extra clause in the agreement: “Vendor shall confirm copyright ownership or provide proof of license.”

It’s a small line. But it’s saves several businesses from massive headaches later.

Best Practices to Safeguard Your Content & Avoid Infringement

Make Copyright a Vendor Hygiene Check

Let’s be honest—most MSMEs don’t have in-house Intellectual Property teams. And expecting vendors to “do the right thing” without checks? Risky. Start by treating copyright like quality control.

When onboarding creative vendors—whether for catalog design, training videos, or product packaging—ask for:

• A copyright declaration (who owns what)
• Proof of license for third-party content (like images, fonts, soundtracks)
• Transfer of rights, where applicable

One mid-sized Mumbai-based logistics firm now includes a 2-line declaration in every purchase order sent to marketing vendors: “All designs submitted must be original or carry valid copyright clearance.” It costs them nothing—but it has already shielded them in one legal skirmish over brochure reuse.

Register What’s Strategically Valuable

Technically, you protect your work the moment you create it—but without registration, enforcing that protection becomes difficult. If you’re investing serious time or money into:

• A product catalog
• A brand video
• A custom jingle
• A proprietary software manual

…get it registered.

Especially for businesses operating in competitive B2B segments (packaging, electronics, niche manufacturing), having that certificate is a moat. In disputes, it’s admissible proof.

Plus, under the MSME IPR Scheme, you can claim subsidies for registering copyrights, trademarks, patents, and designs. It’s underutilized—and it’s your tax money. Use it.

Audit Periodically—Not After the Damage

Create a habit of internal copyright reviews. Nothing complex—just a quarterly checklist:

• What content went live last month?
• Who created it?
• Was it licensed or original?
• Where is the proof stored?

If your team can’t answer those in 5 minutes, you stand exposed.

There’s a reason larger companies bake this into content workflows. But MSMEs can adapt it with Google Sheets, Dropbox folders, or simple tracking tools.

Conclusion

For most Indian MSMEs, copyright status doesn’t come up until something breaks. A rejected tender. A takedown notice. A logo dispute that halts rebranding midstream.

But in reality, it’s not just about protection—it’s about preparation. When you know the status of your creative assets, you reduce procurement friction, build trust with government portals like GeM or eProcure, and safeguard the value you’ve built over time.

As platforms tighten compliance and visibility grows, businesses that proactively manage IP will grow steadily—while those that react late will get flagged publicly.

Start with one thing today: check the status of your key content. If it’s yours, claim it. If it’s not clear—clean it up.

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